Much Ado About Nothing at The Watermill –  fizzing with fun

Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, with a little help from Tom Wentworth, comes to the world of 1940’s Hollywood in this exuberant Watermill production. And what a world it is. Love and romance, song and dance, glamour and laughs, many, many laughs.

A 1940’s soundscape welcomes the audience to the Hollywood setting and the backdrop of a film studio.  Like a film, Much Ado is all about creating an illusion, posturing and playing parts, the difference between appearance and reality and these ideas are enhanced by the set and use of background 40’s film music at dramatic and romantic moments. Carefully chosen 40’s songs – When I fall in love, I can’t give you anything but love, It had to be you – mirror the development of the relationship between Benedick(James Mack) and Beatrice (Katherine Jack) as well as displaying the musical talents and versatility of the ten cast members.

The adaptation remains true to Shakespeare’s original play and, under the direction of Paul Hart, the clarity and pace of the delivery of Shakespeare’s lines are first-class. There are so many stand-out scenes: the ‘merry war’ of wit and wordplay between Beatrice and Benedick, the visual treat of the ball with glamorous costumes and glittering masks, the high comedy of the eavesdropping scenes when first the men and then the women trick Benedick and Beatrice into believing they love each other, and the perfect comic timing of the hilarious scenes with Dogberry (Hayden Wood), his side-kick Verges(Leigh Quinn) and the Watch (creative use of audience participation here).

This was ensemble playing of the highest order and it would be invidious to single out individual actors for praise. However, mention must be made of Margaret (Priscille Grace) and her beautiful singing which was central to creating the 40’s jazz club atmosphere. And also Hayden Wood’s visual, physical comedy and clowning skills which had the audience in hysterics.

With the evil plotting of Don John (Augustina Seymour) forgotten, the play ends back in the jazz club for a final uplifting song and dance celebration of love.  This production is endlessly inventive and the audience were ecstatic in their applause. Much Ado is playing until May 18 – don’t miss it, click here for tickets.